Project description:Checkpoint inhibitors have revolutionized cancer treatment, but resistance remains a significant clinical challenge. Myeloid cells within the tumor microenvironment can modulate checkpoint resistance by either supporting or suppressing adaptive immune responses. Using an anti-PD-1 resistant mouse melanoma model, we show that targeting the myeloid compartment via CD40 activation and CSF1R blockade in combination with anti-PD-1 results in complete tumor regression in a majority of mice. This triple therapy combination is primarily CD40 agonist-driven in the first 24 hours post-therapy and shows a similar systemic cytokine profile in human patients as in mice. Functional single-cell cytokine secretion profiling of dendritic cells (DCs) using a novel microwell assay identified a CCL22+CCL5+ IL-12-secreting DC subset as important early-stage effectors of triple therapy. CD4+ and CD8+ T cells are both critical effectors of treatment, and systems analysis of single-cell RNA-sequencing data supports a role for DC-secreted IL-12 in priming T cell activation and recruitment. Finally, we show that treatment with a novel IL-12 mRNA therapeutic alone is sufficient to overcome PD-1 resistance and cause tumor regression. Overall, we conclude that combining myeloid-based innate immune activation and enhancement of adaptive immunity is a viable strategy to overcome anti-PD-1 resistance.
Project description:Checkpoint inhibitors have revolutionized cancer treatment, but resistance remains a significant clinical challenge. Myeloid cells within the tumor microenvironment can modulate checkpoint resistance by either supporting or suppressing adaptive immune responses. Using an anti-PD-1 resistant mouse melanoma model, we show that targeting the myeloid compartment via CD40 activation and CSF1R blockade in combination with anti-PD-1 results in complete tumor regression in a majority of mice. This triple therapy combination is primarily CD40 agonist-driven in the first 24 hours post-therapy and shows a similar systemic cytokine profile in human patients as in mice. Functional single-cell cytokine secretion profiling of dendritic cells (DCs) using a novel microwell assay identified a CCL22+CCL5+ IL-12-secreting DC subset as important early-stage effectors of triple therapy. CD4+ and CD8+ T cells are both critical effectors of treatment, and systems analysis of single-cell RNA-sequencing data supports a role for DC-secreted IL-12 in priming T cell activation and recruitment. Finally, we show that treatment with a novel IL-12 mRNA therapeutic alone is sufficient to overcome PD-1 resistance and cause tumor regression. Overall, we conclude that combining myeloid-based innate immune activation and enhancement of adaptive immunity is a viable strategy to overcome anti-PD-1 resistance.
Project description:Single cell RNA sequencing paired with single cell V(D)J sequenction of immune cells infiltrating orthotopic KPC2a tumors, spleen cells, and CD8 T cells enriched from spleen cells on day 14 posttumor. Cohorts received no treatment, agonistic anti-CD40, anti-PD-L1 or the combination of agonistic anti-CD40 + anti-PDL1. Treatments were initated on day 7 posttumor.
Project description:Therapeutic use of agonistic anti-CD40 antibodies is a potentially powerful approach for activating the immune response to eradicate tumors. However, the translation of this approach to clinical practice has been significantly restricted due to the severe dose-limiting toxicities observed in multiple clinical trials. Here, we demonstrate that conventional type-1 dendritic cells are essential for triggering antitumor immunity but not toxicity by CD40 agonists, while macrophages, platelets, and monocytes lead to the toxic events. Therefore, we designed bispecific antibodies that target CD40 activation preferentially to dendritic cells. These bispecific reagents demonstrate a superior safety profile compared to their parental CD40 monospecific antibody, while triggering potent anti-tumor activity. We suggest such cell-selective bispecific agonistic antibodies as a drug platform to bypass the dose-limiting toxicities of anti-CD40, and of additional types of agonistic antibodies used for cancer immunotherapy.
Project description:CD40-stimulating immunotherapy elicits potent anti-tumor responses, which are mainly T-cell dependent. Here, we have investigated how tumor endothelial cells respond to CD40-stimulating immunotherapy by isolating endothelial cells from B16.F10 melanoma in anti-CD40 treated or isotype treated mice followed by RNA-sequencing. Gene set enrichment analysis revealed an increase in interferon- related responses in tumor endothelial cells following anti-CD40 therapy. The immunosuppressive enzyme indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) was preferentially expressed in endothelial cells, and it was up-regulated upon anti-CD40 treatment. IDO1 expression in tumor endothelium was positively correlated to T-cell infiltration and to increased expression of IFNγ in the tumor microenvironment. In vitro, endothelial cells up-regulated IDO1 in response to T-cell-derived IFNγ, but not in response to CD40-stimulation. Combining agonistic anti-CD40 therapy with the IDO1 inhibitor epacadostat delayed tumor growth and increased survival in B16.F10 tumor-bearing mice, which was associated with increased activation of tumor-infiltrating T-cells. Hereby, we have uncovered an immunosuppressive feedback mechanism, in which tumor vessels limit the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy by up-regulating IDO1 in response to T-cell activation.